Lifestyle vans hit the road for a good cause

Hundreds of recreational vehicles are tipped to hit Martinborough next month for the inaugural RV Lifestyle Vans & Vines fundraiser for two Wairarapa men.

Event spokesman Bruce Mountain said more than 300 vehicles are expected to take part in the charity drive next month for volunteer firefighter Peter Fisher and Pirinoa farm worker Brian Renwick, who are both recovering from serious injuries received in unrelated incidents last year.

Mr Fisher was attacked in late October after he was called to eject a gatecrasher from a gathering of young people in Broadway St, Martinborough.

Not long before, Mr Renwick was flown to Wellington Hospital after an incident involving a seed planting machine on Pirinoa Station.

Mr Mountain said the inaugural fundraiser rally would be held over the first three days of February, over the same weekend as the first Martinborough Fair, with all funds raised going to the Peter Fisher Trust and Mr Renwick.

"We're hoping the rally will became an annual charity event," he said.

Mr Mountain said Mr Fisher's parents were members of the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) and regular volunteers at rallies, and well-known stalwarts of the community.

The rally comes after the Martinborough Community Christmas Party was held early last month to help raise funds for the two men.

The Martinborough rugby grounds will be home base for the upcoming charity rally, Mr Mountain said, and registration and parking will be organised with NZMCA volunteers, as well as local community volunteers.

The rugby club will have a bar operating over the weekend and a barbecue dinner, charity auction, wine tastings, music, and other fundraising. The rally costs $30 a person, or $50 a couple, for the weekend. For more information, call 06 306 6030 or visit www.rvmagazine.co.nz.